Saturday, December 28, 2013

Be Back Soon!

We are in the South eating horribly, hanging out with family, and shooting guns. Basically having a blast. Can you tell? :p


See you when we get back. 

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Christmas Card Contenders

Here are the other pictures that were potential Christmas card photos.


I liked the background and my hair. What? A girl can't like her hair? :p

He's a walkin' and I'm a walkin' with 'em. This is how I feel everyday.

This one was ultimately our favorite but we couldn't figure out how to hide that hideous car. I mean, Josh's face!

Hope you are having a wonderful week. We are and it's only Monday. Today was my mom's bday and we celebrated with dinner and presents. Josh is the techie in our family and helped the family surprise mom with the #1 thing on her wishlist, an iPhone.

Mom is a gifter so even though it was her birthday she brought presents for everyone, including the little girls who have yet to join us. Her thoughtfulness abounds.

See you tomorrow.

xoxo, J

Friday, December 20, 2013

Friday Favorites // A Christmas Special

I am feeling much better, thank you. The bricks feel like they have been removed from my abdomen. :) 

Babycakes on the left and his cousin on the right while taking Christmas photos for their grandparents. I mean! 


Today is Josh's last day of work before we officially begin our countdown to Christmas. Yay! If you are in the neighborhood, come join us Sunday morning at church! Merry Christmas weekend everyone, have a safe and wonderful time. See you on the Eve of Christmas Eve. ;) 

/ / Web Finds / /

The best post about the top 10 items to buy at Ikea.

6 Cool LA Neighborhoods You Probably Never Heard Of

A great resource on Shopping For Tall Guys

Thursday, December 19, 2013

A New Star Is Born

What's that, you say? What's that beautiful shag you see down on the ground?

Why it's the star of our house! I have been searching for the right rug at the right price for yeeaars - and I finally found it here, on Black Friday for a ridiculous price + free shipping. My sort-of New Year resolution fulfilled just in time. :) It's soft and thick, but not too thick, shaggy, but not too shaggy. Josh said he could do without the tassels but other than that, we love her.


Next up, the perfect throw pillows and wall art. 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A Lot In A Small Period of Time

Before a week ago I would have told you how great I have felt throughout this pregnancy. But that was a week ago. 

At my doctor's appointment last week I failed the routine gestational diabetes test. I'm not exaggerating. When my doctor called he actually said the words, "You failed the gestational diabetes test." I know it's not the end of the world but I shed a tear or two. I also learned at that appointment that my iron was low.

So I scheduled the much more intense glucose tolerance test, picked up another pill to add to my daily popping tally of 10, and we immediately changed my diet to salads and more healthy things.

A few days later I started feeling funny. I had some cramping in my lower abdomen and a general heaviness to my belly. It was hard to walk and lying down didn't seem to help much either. I hadn't pooped in 3 days but I hadn't eaten normal either.

I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking the iron. So I did that, completed the glucose tolerance test, and went home to ride it out. Later that night I still wasn't feeling well when I felt a burning sensation come and go every couple of minutes. I was pretty sure it was a UTI or something like it. It was around 10:30pm and Josh, out of concern for the baby, decided we should go in. UCLA Ronald Reagan was closest so we drove over there and were admitted to Labor and Delivery. They did an ultrasound to make sure the little bambino was safe (which she was) and took a urine sample. When the results came back they said it was not a UTI and that there was nothing they could do for me.

By this time is was 2:30am. We were tired. I was in pain. And we were leaving with nothing.

We crawled into bed around 3:00am. Josh called out sick this morning and we scheduled an appointment to see my OB. As soon as he looked over the urine sample results from UCLA he said it was obvious I had a bladder infection. He showed us their results that clearly showed blood in my urine. He was frustrated with them and to be honest so were we. He said this isn't the first time UCLA, Westwood has overlooked a simple diagnosis.

He checked to make sure my cervix hadn't gone into pre-term labor (which it hadn't), took another urine sample, and gave me a prescription. He also informed us that I had barely passed the glucose tolerance test so although I do not officially have gestational diabetes, I need to lay off the carbs and anything with sugar.

Phew! Gestational diabetes testing, constipation, low iron, and a bladder infection? 

We are home now. Both of us are tired but mostly relieved. I should feel more like my old self tomorrow. I am thankful for Dr. Phillips and mostly for Josh, whose concern and care for me and baby girl cannot be rivaled.

Ladies, please make sure you marry a man who would do the same for you. They are a needle in a haystack.

And with that story, I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams my friends. I'll see you tomorrow...with something that has brought me joy while I've been down. :)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Christmas Greetings!

By now you must be familiar with the drill. Mail delivery gets first dibs on the Christmas card, then you my friends, are next. I love getting mail (especially when it's not a bill) and I know many of you do too. So here's to that antiquated, debt ridden government service. ;) Cheers!

Merry Christmas friends. You mean a lot to me. Hope you are filled with the hope of Jesus!


P.S. In case you are wondering where they are printed from, I went with Tiny Prints because of this incident.

Props to my bil, Luke, for the photos.

And if you're curious, last years Christmas card and the year before that.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Advent

I've always loved the season of advent. It helps me to keep perspective during a busy time. For my birthday this year Aimee (and Blane) gave me this wonderful advent. I put up a new print each day. It is so fun and festive!


My favorite is Day 8, it says, "Son of the Most High".

I consider this week the last week leading up to Christmas. And I hope, for you and for me, that as each day passes we take a step closer to understanding the fullness and meaning behind the birth of Jesus.

xoxo my friends!

~ Tuesday on the blog, our Christmas card.


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

My Realistic Christmas Wishlist

Can you believe Christmas is in 2 weeks?

Considering we have purchased ONE gift so far, that timeline looms. Did Christmas come fast to anyone else this year?

I've seen a lot of bloggers posting their gift guides and present lists. I often wonder if they would actually buy that stuff for anyone or if they're just trying to put an interesting and pretty gift guide together. Last night we celebrated Aimee's birthday with her inlaws and my parents. Our conversation revolved around what the spouse thought the other wanted for Christmas. It was quite hilarious and ranged from underwear to diamonds. :) It got me thinking about what I wanted for Christmas. It's not that pretty or interesting but this is what I came up with.

1. Running shoes - right now I can only wear my old, HUGE marathon shoes. They're the only shoes that don't hurt my back but they certainly hurt my ego.


2. A large print for my bare walls. You can never go wrong with Sugar Paper. Always a delight. 

3. Maternity yoga pants and jacket. Doesn't that sound heavenly and oh-so comfortable? I don't think I'd wear anything else for the rest of this incubation.

4. Some large, comfy couch pillows. The kind you hug in your lap after you've eaten too much or the kind you take a nap on.


And that's my realistic Christmas Wishlist. Kinda boring, eh? What's on your list?

Monday, December 9, 2013

A Little Sprinkle

Remember my invitation debacle? Well, we had that little party this past weekend at our place. It was our first party! And it was so fitting that it was to celebrate Aimee and her little girl. :)

The invitation said "A Little Sprinkle" because this isn't her first kiddo, but everyone is so excited it's a girl that I just had to have a little something. We did a simple potluck and it was intimate and fun - at least that's how I hope people felt. haha




Yum, the food was soo good! I just love an asian potluck. (Hi Grace - you are so cute!)



Aimee likes gifts - both giving and receiving, so this was a lot of fun.


Obviously Leah and I are missing something really adorable. -_- PAY ATTENTION.


I hope Aimee felt all those wonderful feelings you get when a party is for you. And I'm grateful these ladies would take the time to come and celebrate with us in the middle of a very busy month.


And mostly, I am thankful that they will all have a unique part in raising this little girl.

God is good.

P.S. Thanks to Meliss for the photos. :)

Friday, December 6, 2013

A Friday Favorites, Favorite

Today we have a special Friday Favorite, Babycakes walking. He's so proud of himself, isn't he? Almost as proud as we are of him. :)


/ / Web Favorites / /

This short story moved me to tears. In the middle of so much bad, there were pockets of extraordinary good.

I wish I could buy this and this.

Anyone have a sweet tooth? Let's go!

What an imagination. These parents are cool.

First police shooting and killing ever? Wow.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Land of Nod

Over the weekend we took a trip to The Land of Nod at South Coast Plaza.

Josh and I went to touch some of their nursery furniture to see if we liked them as much as I did online. A long story short, the store was just as magical as I imagined. It was a kids dreamland but us adults could have stayed in there for hours.






We did find a few things we liked. So our nursery shopping has begun. :) Share more soon as it comes together.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Christmafied!


Hello December. And hello Christmas decorations.

Mom came over Saturday and Sunday to help me decorate for Christmas. And by decorate I mean she turned my house into a winter wonderland. Because of her, we now have a 3ft Noel sign, two manger scenes, one big Christmas tree, one small Christmas tree, one glittery snowman, a huge poinsettia, a fresh garland with lights on my patio, two stockings, a second fresh garland with lights on my countertop, two santas, eight candles, a mistletoe, and one shiny Christmas sign up in our one bedroom apartment. 

It is wonderful. My mom is wonderful.




Last night I sat at my dining room table for hours just enjoying it all. 

Hello Christmas!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

H A P P Y T H A N K S G I V I N G

A DIY placemat seen on Hither Thither

I read someone's post on facebook the other day basically asking others to temper their joy during these times in consideration of others who are going through a hard time. I took pause with that because yeah, I get it, but at the same time there seems to be something fundamentally wrong with approaching it that way.

Devos said this today:

A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven. Moreover as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows. You cannot yet live in heaven but you can experience foretastes of your ultimate home. A thankful mindset does not entail denial of reality with its plethora of problems. Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations. I am your refuge and strength, an ever present and well proved help in trouble. 

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with thanks and hope, as we look upward to the Father.

/ / And some reading for those of you with no school or work. :) Be safe! / /

The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving

A Complete Traditional Thanksgiving Meal + Recipes

All Hail The Sweet Potato

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Zara Mini

Zara Mini is ... is ... well, see for yourself. I die.










This is one of those times I wish I had a sponsored blog and corporations would pay me in goods to advertise in a post. I have visions of boxes and boxes of baby girl clothes arriving at my door. But alas, that is not the case, and this is just a true, unfiltered love for all things Zara. I heart Zara.